Indicating system and apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



H. H. BOYCE. INDIGATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1913. v

Patented Mar. 17, 1914" 2 sums-sum 1.

H. H. BOYCE.

INDIGATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1913.

1,090,776. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Z 2/ N I? [26 Z7 55 f ,w

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNITE sTATEs PATENT ain HA'RBISON HURLBERT BOYCE, E OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK.

INDICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUS'IION ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that. I, .HARRISON I IUnLnnirr Borciaa citizen of 'the'United States, residing at Oyster Bay, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Indicating Systems and Apparatus for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following,- taken in connection with the accoinpanying sheets of drawings, forms a complete and concise description.

"lhis in'venticn relates to a system for indicating'the condition of internal combustion engines of various types, and particularly of those styles wherein the cylinders are cooled by'a fluid medium which is circulated therearound or thereabout, the indi cating means being located without or not in direct contact with the cylinders.

While my invention is generally applicable to stationary and other explosive engines ofyany character and under varying conditions of service, it is especially adapt-- able for use in connection with automobiles and thelike wherein the'engine cylinders are cooled by a liquid delivered or supplied thereto through any suitable medium, as, for .instance, from a radiator or the like, which is customarily situated some distance 'away from the engine cylinders, though I would liave'it expressly understood that'I inno wise limit myself to this specific ap- -plicationor embodiment of my invention,

which I have selected as a basis for illustrating and describing my invention, merely for the purpose of rendering a clear and comprehensive understanding of the scope and novel features thereof.

My invention broadlv comprehends the provision or arrangementof means for indicating the condition or temperature of the engine, the action of the temperature in- (limiting means being governed or controlled by the water or other circulating medium employed for producing such variations in the temperature of the cylinders as may be necessary or desired by the operator.

I have found that many, if not 'i.\ost of the troubles to which internal combust on engines are subject result directly or indirectly in a change in the temperature of Specification of Letters Patent.

the engine and cooling system, this being true tor instance of such contingencies as imperfect lubrication, iinpro er adjustv v y r Patented Mar. 17, 1914i... Application filed January 3, 1913. Serial No. 739,978.

nept ot the carburetei', insu cient water in the radiator, tailure of-proper circulation of the cooling water, broken fan belt. etc., a'nd it is anobject of the present in vention to provide an effective indicator governed by such changes of temperature which will call to the attention of t-e operator the existence of eonditions ifi'inical t0- the 'satisfactory operation of the engine, arising from any of these or similar causes. I sliall now proceed to describe one embodiment of my invention witlr reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a specific application thereof, and then proceed to point out with more particularity, the essential elements of novelty in the annexed claims.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of my invention showing the radiator in section with my preferred formof indicator attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the indicator shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 2, Y

showing the manner in which the indicator is fastened to the radiator cap, the thermometer extending into the air space there-- within. 7

' Referring now to the drawingsin detail,

.which illustrate an embodiment of my invention in connection with an explosive engine and cooling system, such asis ordinarily employed in automobiles, like reference numerals being employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views,

7 is a radiator of the usual type employed in connection with the particular application.

of my invention now being described, and which is customarily located forward of and some distance from the engine 8. The

let 12 preferably located at the bottom of the radiator, through a pipe or connection 13 to, the usual pump l4,preferably of the centrifugal type, which ("'rnmunicates with' the Water jackets of the individual cylinders,

. through the agency of the pipes 15 a nd l6.

The cooling fluidis thereb caused to cir- 'cu'late through'and about tie water jackets of theindiv-idual cylinders, leavin the jack BtSIOf the cylinders by'-'mcanso the short connecting pipes designated by the numeral 17., which lead into the return pipei18,open-' ing intothe radiator 7, as shown at 19, and

' in roxir'nit to the to p thereof.

- 21 and supported thereon by means of The body or frame. portion 28 of my pre-" ferre'd form of indicator of whichthe flange or supp ying andreplenishing the. radiator with the cooling fluid, the same is rovided with the customary opening 20, a'ving the usual cap 21 preferably threaded thereon? Thetop of this cap 21 is centrally apertured at 22 for the reception of the indicating means, which I' employ in connection with my system, the detail'c-onstruction of which may, however, be varied to'attain the object of. my invention, but which I will now describe as illustrated in the-drawings, and which I have found to be a most satisfactory and desirable form thereof. The indicator is secured to the inlet cap annular flange 23, preferably formed integral with the frame of the indicator, and a' screw threaded protuberance 24 which ex tends downwardly ,within the aperture or opening .22 in the radiator cap 21, the

washer or gasket 25 passing thereover and,

engaging with the under surface of the cap.

21, the-lock nuts 26 and 27 being screwed, home on the protuberant portion 24thereby=- firmly clamping the top portioiimf the cap betweenthe flange 23 and the washer 25' and makingthe indicator rigidtherewith'.

23 is a part, is'annular inconfiguration, and

is provided; at its upper part-with avdown-l wardly depending flange or portion 29, which-serves as al-rest or support for the 'magnifyinglenses or crystals, and their retaining rings when in assembled position. as-

will be hereinafter apparent.

Positioned centrally of the device and' supported within theframe 28, but prefer-' ably thermally insulated therefrom by a concrete or other non-conducting filling 30 is a thermometer .31, the upper portion thereof being secured to the circularplate or disk 32 by the strap 33, the teat or extrem-= ity of the thermometer being seated within the orifice 34 invsaid-plate." As'ivill be observed, the lower portion of the .thermometer extends through theprotubeiant portion- 24, which is provided with a central. bore 35 for, the purpose, theenl'argediportion. or I .bulb thereof extending below the plane of,"

the protuberance 24 and-within the air s ace or' pocket 36 formed in tl ie'inlet 20- and -the upper part of the 'radiatorabove the level '0 the waterwi thin-the radiator/I, the bulb. being protected against fracture or breakage bg athimble orcap 37 formed of metal or t e tuberance 24 and providedwith a plurality of apertures or holes 38 as-shown in Fig.. 3.. It will beapparent-from"the-'foregoin that the bulb of the thermometer-'31, extend ing'into' the airspace 36 will cause the inso dicating fluid, which may bealcohol, glycerin,'or any other suitable medium which will retain. its homogeneity or solidity -regardless of the vibration of the system of which it is apart, to respond to changes-in the'temperature of the atmosphere within the air space 36, whichis inpr'bximity to the point-{of inflow 19st the heated water com-- ing fronrthecylinder jackets -The; plate 32 to which th'e'thermometer 40' is secured is ositioned to. the rear thereof, its front face eing provided with the graduations 39 to indicate the degree ofrise and fall of the fluid within the tube; and-"is/ formed with a centrally locatedsight open- J5 ing' orwindow- 40 whichj enables'the operatorof the. engineof which my system is a part to instantly detect any sudden or abnormal 'riseor change in the temperature of the engine, the reflection .from the head- .light'of the car serving tie-throw the 'indi- I cafi'ng fluid within the tubeintosrelief'at night. Furthermore, 'theemplo'yment of the magnifyin lenses 41 a1id 42 positioned forwardly and rearwardly' of the frame-enlarge or magnifythe tube of the thermometer so that t e' movement of the indicating .flnid may 'be'easily observed and hatedeiven at a .a istance therefrom. the-provision of the Y sight open ng making'theoperator fully aware of the condition of his engine either by ay or by night p I fe lenses on crystals 41,42 together with their retaining r1ngs=43 and 44,111! the plate 32 are firmlyrandsecurelyfastened to the frame ofthe' indicator by thescrewsftzi passing therethrough asshown in Fig. '2 thus producing a compact arrangement whichwill withstand considerable shock and} will not be allected by, the vibration'of thep1-20 vehicle or part thereof. to which it is at.' tached.

Under normal running conditions of the engine, the temperature of the atmosphere within the radiator air space 36 vissuchas to render the indicating fluidwithin the tube or thermometer. visible just above the lower portion. ofthe'siglit aperture .40. Shouldlike threaded 'nto' the'bore' of;tlie pro- 75 I the engine run hot however, or any other contingency arise which would tend to raise the temperature of the cooling fluid, the indicatmg medium will expand across the sight openin 40, immediately notifyin the observer of t cexistence of trouble an call upon him to remedy the same.

An important feature of my indicating apparatus or system in its preferred form, is that the heat responsive element of the indicator is not submerged in the water within the radiator, but is located in a space or pocket above the normal water-level. The reason for this is that it isnot the purpose ofthe' present apparatus merely to indicate the temperature of the cooling water, but the invention has a far broader and more important aspect, namely, that of indicating the actual condition of the engine so as to serve as a guide for its safe and eflicient operation. 'In the first place, by locating the heat responsive element of the indicator in the air space above the water level, a much more eiiective danger signal is produced. This will be appreciated when 1t is understood that the temperature of the air in the space above the water is usually considerably lower than the temperature of the water, often 30 or 40 degrees lower, under normal running conditions. On the other hand, when the engine heats up to a point when the water in the cylinder jackets commences to boil, which marks the beginning of dangerous conditions, the air-space above the water level fills with steam which at once causes a sudden and considerable rise in the temperature Within such space. Thus I upon the heating of the engine to the danger point theair space may be subjected to a quick rise in temperature, often as much as 30 to 50 degrees, while the actual rise in temperature of the circulating water may not exceed 5 to 10 degrees. Correspondingly the indicator, the temperature responsive element of which is located in the air space, will show a much more impressive change in reading than would be the case if it were in-- fluenced only by the comparatively slight rise in temperature of the circulating liquid.

Inthe particular form of apparatus illustrated, the indicating column, when the instrument is subjected to steam temperature, passes almost immediately entirely across the sight opening 40. On the other hand, 1f the bulb were submerged in the hot liquid in the upper part of the radiator, the column might normally stand. at say 205 degrees without indicating a dangerous condition within the engine so that the rise of the engine temperature from the safe cond t on of 205 degrees to the dangerous condltlon of 212 degrees would be marked only by the corresponding small rise of the liquid column, a movement so slight as to be hardly extensive rise in temperature is partial-- larl desirable, as it is obviously impractica le to use a thermometer having a long tube, which would be both unsightly and structurally inconvenient and unsafe. By-

using a short tube thermometer, the entire range of temperature to be indicated can be compressed within a comparatively small space and at the same time the comparatively small rise for small changes of temperature is not objectionable as a sudden and large rise is insured immediately upon the occurrence of a condition of danger within the engine. It is to be understood, however, that my invention in its broader aspects is in no way. limited to the use of a liquid expansion thermometer, as any sort of thermostatic or temperature responsive element or means ma be emplo ed without departing there rom. Anot ier disadvantage which would occur if the thermometer bulb or other heat responsive element of the indicator were normally submerged in the liquid, would be the failure of the indicator to give a correct reading upon the falling of the water level within the radiator. For example, if the water level should fall owing to leakage or other cause until it was below the bulb, the bulb would then be exposed to the air above the water level, which, as

before stated, is normally cooler than the water so that a drop in temperature would be indicated by the instrument instead of the rise in temperature which would actually take place in the water. This objection is avoided where the heat responsive element is normally located in the air space.

Probably the most important advantage oi locating the bulb or heatresponsive element in the air space instead of submerging it in the cooling liquid is that it will indicate a condition of danger upon the stoppage of the circulation of the liquid, while the submerged bulb will frequently fail to give such indication. This will be understood when it is considered that the submerged bulb registers the temperature of the water in the radiator, which upon the stoppage. of the circulation gets cooler and temperature. Accordingly the instrument will ordinarily show a fall of temperature, even though the water may be steamingin the cylinder jackets. If the heat responsive element of the indicator is mounted in the air space above the water level, however, as soon as steani is formed in the cylinder jackets, it will find its way into such air space whether the water is circulated or not,

:cooler and does not respond to the engine fro.

and-therefore, will immediately I cause the rapidri'se of the indicating fluid and give the essential danger signa'h Thus the placing' of the heat; responsive element in the air 5; space above thewater level 'ne under any: and all circumstances, While If theheat; responsive element were actually inserted in the'coolin'g liquid, itwouldl'oft'enfail-to. indicate danger under one of the most injurious conditions which can possibl'y occur in internal combustion engines, namely the stfiipage of the. circulation of thecooling'liq' ndr f H Certain features of invention embodied in the apparatus shown in this 'appli'cationare n-otpiitimed herein as the same form thegsub: ject-matter ofanother application filed by .me,jSerial No. 726,270.

' "While I'have described one particular "embodiment of my invention as illustrative of theprin ci le thereof, it is to be understood that'I. o not limit myself to such em =bodiment but desire to cover-the novel prin-,

' measuring'instrument.I In this way an indi 4'0 eating device or signal is provided which forms an always present danger signal or guide for the operator indicating to him the condition of the engine and enablinghim to secure thebest results while operating the same. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein and desire to secure.

by Letters Patent is:

i 1. In asystem for indicating abnormal.

conditions in aninternal combustion engine havinga liquid circulation cooling system for the cylinders of the engine, the combinationwvith mean-s forming an inclosed space abovethe level of the circulating liquid, of an indicating devi'cc having a temperature responsive element normally permanentlv so I located with reference ,to said. inclosmg imea'ns as to respond to temperature changes in said inclosed space and means controlled bV'Sflld element for giving a temperature changeindica'tion outside said space. 2. Ina system for indicating tl llfil'll ltll 7 conditions in an internal combustion eng ne provided within ,liquid circulation cooling system for the cylinders of the engine, said tion 'With the ma] operation of the engin cooling system'includin a radiator having an air. space at the top t ereof,'the combinaradiator ofan indicating de vice havingan indicating part outside the radiator and having a. temperature respon-- sive element Scontrollingthe. operation of. sold ndlcatingrpart and exposed to the temperature in said-air space {above the level of the liquid i-ngthe' radiator and means for.

maintainingthe temperature responsive element n place in the radiator during the nor- 3. In a system for' indicating abnormal COIldltlOIlS Ill an "internal combustion engine provided with a hqu dcirculation. cooling,

system for the cylinders of the engine, said cooling system-including} radiator having an air space therein abovethelevel of the circulating liquid and having a filler opening closedby 'a' cap, the combination ,with the radiator and cap of tin-indicating devim normallypermanently mounted on said cap and having a normally visible indicating part and a temperature responsive element controlling the operation of'sai'd indicating part and exposed to temperatures within the anspace. 4. In a'system for indicating abnormal conditions in an internal combustion engine provided with a liquid "circulation cooling system for the. cylinders oflth'e engine, said cooling system including a radiator having an air space therein above the level of the circulating liquid, the combinationiwith the permanently carried by said radiator andcomprising an exposed protective casing, a visible indicating partin said casing, anda temperature responsive element controlling normally located in the airspace in the radiator.

5. In a system for indicating abnormal conditions in an internal combustion engine provided with a liquid circulation cooling 110 system for the cylinders of the engine, said cooling system including a radiator having radiator ofan indicating device normally the operation of said indicating part and 05 an air space therein above the level of/ the circulating liquid and having a filler opening closed by a cap, thec-ombination 'with 5 -the radiator and cap of an indicating devlce normally pcrn'iancntly attached 'to said cap and comprising an exposed ,protective casing, an indicating part 111 said caslng' and a temperature responsive element controlling. 2

theoperation of said indicating part and normally located in the an space In said radiator.

6. Ina system for indicating abnormal conditions in an internal combustion engine provided with a liquid circulation cooling I svstem for the cylinders ofthe engine,- said cooling system including a radiator having an air space therem above the level of the.

circulating liquid, the combination with the 1 'adiefior; of indicatin device normally .permm 'enfly carried by said' radiator and .eompi'ijs'ipgfa 'the 'momete'r having a; bulb normallylocated {in saidairspace at the top prrijeetilzifivisibletube, a, protective cas'-' v mggfir eprojeeti g portlqn of saidltuheg' @In witness whereof, I have hereunto setmy'hand in the presence of two subscribing w1tnesses. e Q

HARRISON HURLBER'I. BOYCE. ,Witn'esses V P. FRANK- SONN'EK,

v.WM. G. DUNN. 

